They suggest that Zuckerberg personally backed decisions that prevented stronger guardrails on AI companions, including for users under 18, despite warnings from child safety teams. One internal safety lead wrote that creating AI that could simulate romantic interactions involving minors was 'neither advisable nor defensible'. AI Companions: What They Were Designed To DoMeta introduced its AI companions in early 2024 as conversational tools intended to simulate companionship and social interaction. Supporters of Meta note the company has taken steps to update policies and restrict unsafe uses while acknowledging the complex ethical questions raised by AI companions. AI companions across the tech sector have drawn scrutiny for how they engage young users.